Chapter 244
Hearing this, Gideon glanced flatly at Lorelei without answering the question. "I just spoke with the attending physician."
Compared to Josephine, Briana was clearly more concerned about her grandson. "What did the doctor say?"
"The child's recovering well. But being premature, his health isn't good. He'll likely get sick easily in the future. We'll need to take extra care as parents."
Premature babies were heartbreaking—naturally weak. What might be a simple cold for others could mean serious illness for this child.
It meant the parents and family would have to devote much more energy.
Briana sighed. She felt love, pity, and resentment for this grandson. They'd waited so long for a child, only for him to be so fragile.
Thinking of the person who'd caused all this, her hatred intensified.
"It's all Josephine's fault! If that woman hadn't done something underhanded, this child wouldn't have been born early."
Gideon disagreed. "The police already investigated. Lorelei's fall wasn't Josephine's doing."
"There were no cameras in that area. What did the police investigate?" Briana looked at him knowingly. "You're just biased toward her. You won't allow anyone to say a bad word about her."
Before Gideon could respond, Lorelei bit her teeth hard. "Why haven't you come to the hospital to see me and the baby these past few days? We've missed you."
Gideon's tone was flat. "I have my own matters. There are doctors and nurses here. Just rest and recover."
He'd come in a rush and left just as quickly, not giving either woman a chance to make him stay. He soon disappeared from the hospital room doorway.
Briana snorted coldly. "He's definitely going to see that woman again."
Lorelei lowered her head, lost in thought.
Briana tried to comfort her. "The child's already born. Mr. David Getty has set your wedding date. Just rest peacefully in the hospital. After you're married, you'll be Mrs. Getty..."
There was really no need to target Josephine anymore.
At least not right now.
Lorelei wasn't listening and didn't agree. "He hasn't budged. He hasn't agreed to the wedding. When the day comes, are you sure he'll actually show up?"
Briana fell silent.
She knew her son too well. He might very well run from the wedding.
But she couldn't say that now and upset the emotionally unstable Lorelei.
"Don't think about that. Your most important task now is to rest and recover so you can take good care of the baby later."
Lorelei's lips twisted. "Of course I'll take good care of the baby. But I also won't allow anyone to steal the happiness that's within my reach."
"What are you planning?"
Lorelei stared at the television. When Gideon had arrived earlier, she'd casually muted it. The TV made no sound, but the screen still displayed Josephine's photo.
Crystal clear. And deeply annoying.
"She's really in the spotlight now—married to Cedric, so brilliant in her career... Don't you think we should send her a congratulatory gift?"
Briana's heart skipped a beat. "You want to do something at the press conference..."
Lorelei smiled gently. "Don't worry. This is the Getty Group's press conference. I don't plan to ruin it. I just think we should help my future sister-in-law make a name for herself..."
Briana said no more.
As long as they didn't sabotage the conference, David wouldn't say anything.
Besides...
She was also annoyed with Josephine.
The two women exchanged smiles, perfectly aligned in their thinking.
The day of the press conference.
The Getty Group's conference hall was packed. Media reporters set up cameras, flashbulbs constantly popping.
Josephine stood backstage, peering through a gap in the curtain at the sea of people below. She took a deep breath and gripped her speech notes.
Emma walked over and said softly, "Josephine, ready?"
"Yes."
"Don't be nervous. You'll be the most brilliant person here today."
Josephine smiled faintly. She'd carefully chosen a well-tailored cream suit, her hair pulled into a simple low ponytail that showed off her elegant neck and delicate collarbones. Her makeup was understated but perfectly highlighted her features.
Emma whispered, "You've got this!"
The host announced, "Now, please welcome the project director of the Starlight Group and Getty Group collaboration, Ms. Kennedy, to the stage."
Thunderous applause filled the hall.
Josephine walked onstage amid the applause, her steps unhurried and confident. Flashbulbs focused on her, but she showed no panic—only an inner confidence that radiated outward.
"Distinguished guests, members of the media, good afternoon."
Her voice carried clearly through the microphone across the entire venue.
"After months of hard work and countless sleepless nights, the NGRAS project officially launched three days ago. Based on the first batch of feedback, user satisfaction reached 87%, and this isn't just my achievement alone..."
Josephine spoke eloquently onstage.
She demonstrated not only the project's success but also her professional capabilities and personal charisma as project director.
She knew every data point by heart, could accurately explain every detail, and handled media questions with ease.
In the back row, Gideon sat in a corner, his gaze fixed obsessively on Josephine onstage.
She stood there, radiant.
The lights illuminated her face, outlining the refined contours of her profile. Her eyes shone as she spoke, filled with a confidence and poise Gideon hadn't seen in her for a long time.
No.
He suddenly remembered. Many years ago, Josephine had stood on a campus podium just like this.
She'd been dazzling even then.
He'd still been that illegitimate son who couldn't step into the light, sitting below, looking up at her, his heart pounding like drums.
After they married, she'd dimmed her brilliance. It had given him the illusion that he could deceive her, that the cage he'd built in love's name would keep her trapped forever.
Reality proved he was the foolish one.
She should have been his wife. He should have stood beside her, sharing her joys and sorrows.
But now...
Gideon's fingers unconsciously tightened, his nails nearly digging into his palms.
He no longer had that right.
Just then, a commotion arose at the entrance.
Lorelei entered carrying the baby, supported by Briana. Both wore plain clothes. Lorelei had deliberately applied makeup to look weak, and the premature infant in her arms looked especially small and fragile.
Josephine was still explaining project plans onstage when Lorelei reached the front row.
Briana laughed coldly, her voice jarringly loud in the hall. "Josephine, how dare you stand up there?"
Onstage, Josephine's voice cut off abruptly.
Standing at the side of the stage, Cedric's eyes darkened. He glanced at Noah, who immediately understood and stepped forward with a polite smile. "Ladies, this is a press conference. If you have something to say, please wait until it's over."
Briana didn't engage with Noah directly. She simply stopped talking.
But Lorelei lowered her eyes, and tears began to fall. "Ms. Kennedy, that day in the alley, you pushed me and I fell. The baby came early. Though he survived, he's naturally weak. From birth, he's been in the hospital. I thought you'd come apologize, but you never came once. How can you be so heartless?"
She held up the baby. The tiny infant looked especially fragile in his swaddling.
The media went wild with photos. The commotion in the hall grew louder.
Briana added her voice at just the right moment, enunciating each word. "You murderer!"
Briana's voice seemed to echo through the hall.
A reporter asked, "Miss, is this true? Did Ms. Kennedy really destroy your family and try to kill your unborn child?"
Lorelei only cried, as if too grief-stricken to speak.
But Briana spoke righteously. "Of course it's true! I'm Gideon's mother—I wouldn't lie! I witnessed everything. I only regret I wasn't there when she tried to harm them. Otherwise I wouldn't have let her succeed! I would've called the police immediately and had her thrown in jail!"